Community Corner
Wednesday Blotter: $24,500 Worth of Landscaping Tools Stolen
The following arrest information was supplied by the Des Plaines Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
The provided the following reports.
Burglary to a Motor Vehicle
Police were dispatched for a burglary to a motor vehicle report in the 1300 block of South Lee Street at 6:26 a.m. on Jan. 30. According to the report, sometime between 10 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 6:15 a.m. on Jan. 30, an unknown offender used a bolt cutter tool to cut a hole in the property’s north fence, used the same tool to cut the locks off two landscape trailers and stole $24,500 worth of landscaping tools. Additionally, the owners of the trailers and the property estimated that the burglary caused $11,500 in property damage.
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Earlier:
Items reported stolen include five lawn mowers, three leaf blowers, four weed whackers, seven hedge trimmers, three chainsaws, three pruners, three lawnmower catchers, three hedge clippers, one snow blower, one mountain bike and a 250-piece craftsman tool set.
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The responding officer reported that a vehicle had left tire tracks in a grassy field adjacent to the property, and that the direction of the tracks suggested the offenders drove off northbound to Forrest Avenue.
Retail Theft
Police charged George Lemke, 44, with one count of retail theft. According to the report, an officer was on routine patrol in the 500 block of Metropolitan Way at 11:12 on Jan. 26, when he noticed Lemke acting suspiciously. The officer followed Lemke into the woods behind 1789 Rand Rd., confronted Lemke and found him to be in possession of two bottles of wine, valued at $15.37, which Lemke allegedly admitted to stealing from the nearby Shop and Save, 518 Metropolitan Way, by placing the bottles underneath his shirt.
A review of Shop and Save security tapes showed Lemke paying for other food items but not the wine bottles, police said. Lemke was also warned that he could no longer return to the Shop and Save.
Criminal Damage to a Vehicle
Police were dispatched for a criminal damage to a vehicle report in the 1200 block of Prospect Avenue at 7:32 a.m. on Jan. 27. According to the report, sometime between 9 p.m. on Jan. 26 and 7:15 a.m. on Jan. 27, an unknown offender broke the headlights and taillights of a 1991 Dodge Ram pickup truck, spray painted the body and rims, keyed the side of the vehicle and etched the word “WATCH” into the hood. The truck had been parked on the west side of Spruce Avenue, just south of Prospect Avenue. The victim told police that he did not know who would have vandalized his truck.
